Bollywood star Ajay Devgn is gearing up for a massive 2026, with several major films lined up. Four of his movies released this year — two registered success, while two failed at the box office. Like every top actor, Ajay has rejected many films throughout his career, but there have also been occasions where he genuinely wanted a role, only for someone else to land it at the last moment.

One such incident occurred decades ago, when Ajay was almost finalized for a major project — until Akshay Kumar stepped in and took the film. Surprisingly, the movie wasn’t originally offered to either Ajay or Akshay. The first choice was Sunny Deol, but a fallout changed everything.

How Akshay Kumar Took the Film Away From Ajay Devgn

The story goes back to the 1999 action thriller Jaanwar, written by Robin Bhatt and K.K. Singh, and directed and produced by Sunil Darshan. The film eventually starred Akshay Kumar, with Karisma Kapoor and Shilpa Shetty in key roles.

According to IMDb trivia and industry reports, Ajay Devgn was nearly confirmed for the lead role. He had agreed verbally, and a meeting was scheduled with Sunil Darshan to sign the contract papers.

But everything changed over one weekend.

Director Sunil Darshan received an unexpected call from Akshay Kumar, who expressed keen interest in the film. At that time, Akshay’s career was going through a slump after delivering multiple flops. Despite this, Sunil Darshan was impressed by his seriousness, commitment, and the hunger to revive his career.

He made a bold decision — he cast Akshay Kumar, even though:

• He had never met Akshay before

• He knew Akshay was not a commercially safe choice in that period

• Ajay Devgn had already agreed to do the film

Ajay was reportedly told that the film’s casting had changed and that he might be working alongside Akshay instead. Ultimately, he lost a major project that he was on the verge of signing.

Sunny Deol Was Supposed to Be the Hero

Interestingly, before Ajay Devgn or Akshay Kumar came into the picture, Sunny Deol was the original choice for Jaanwar. He had even agreed to the script after hearing it.

However, due to a misunderstanding between him and Sunil Darshan regarding the shelving of another project titled London, the two had a fallout. This disagreement led Sunny to exit the film, opening the door for new contenders.

Jaanwar Became a Turning Point for Akshay Kumar

Despite all the challenges, Jaanwar turned out to be a big hit, reviving Akshay Kumar’s career at a crucial time. The film remains one of the most important milestones in his journey.

Ajay Devgn, who was extremely close to being cast, missed out unexpectedly — a rare instance where the role shifted dramatically at the last minute.